All Our Wrong Todays

Tom Barren lives in an alternate 2016 where technology advanced rapidly after the invention of clean, unlimited energy in the 1960s. As the son of a pioneering scientist in the field of time travel, Tom has access to experimental technology but struggles to find his place in this technological utopia. When Tom makes an impulsive decision involving time travel, he finds himself in our version of 2016 - a world that seems primitive and polluted compared to his own. The accident that brought him here forces Tom to confront questions about identity, destiny, and whether his "better" world was truly superior. Through parallel timelines and alternate histories, Tom must navigate relationships that exist in multiple versions and decide which reality should prevail. His choices pit technological progress against human connection, and scientific achievement against personal growth. The novel explores how seemingly small moments can reshape the fate of humanity, while questioning whether perfection comes at the cost of the messy but meaningful experiences that make us human. At its core, this is a story about finding purpose in an infinite set of possible lives.

Readers appreciate the fresh take on time travel and parallel universes, finding the story accessible despite complex scientific concepts. Many connect with the protagonist's flaws and personal growth, with readers calling him "endearingly imperfect" and "refreshingly honest." Readers highlight the humor throughout the book, particularly in early chapters, and praise Mastai's ability to blend emotional depth with sci-fi elements. Multiple reviews note the creative format and conversational writing style. Common criticisms include a slow middle section and some readers struggle with the protagonist's self-absorption. Several reviews mention the romance subplot feels forced. Some sci-fi fans find the technical explanations oversimplified. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (900+ ratings) "A mind-bending story that doesn't get lost in its own complexity" appears in multiple reader reviews across platforms.

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The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North A man who relives his life repeatedly retains memories from past iterations and discovers others like him.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton A protagonist inhabits different bodies each day to solve a murder in a time loop.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar Two agents from opposing factions in a multidimensional war communicate through time-traveling letters.

🌟 Author Elan Mastai wrote the first draft of this novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), completing 50,000 words in 30 days. 🔮 The book's alternate timeline is inspired by the optimistic future visions of the 1950s and 1960s, when people imagined we'd all have flying cars and live in gleaming utopian cities by 2016. ⚡ Before writing novels, Mastai was (and still is) a successful screenwriter, having penned films like "What If" starring Daniel Radcliffe and "The F Word." 🎭 The protagonist's name, Tom Barren, is partly inspired by the author's grandfather, who changed his surname from Mastai to Barren when he immigrated to Canada. 🌍 The novel explores real scientific concepts about parallel universes and quantum mechanics, which Mastai researched extensively by consulting with physicists and reading scientific papers.